Brake-beam.



G. H. WILLIAMS, JR. BRAKE BEAM.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1909.

961,92, Patented June 21,1910.

Fig 2..

'bnessas UNITED %IAIE% PATENT @FFICE.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JIt., OF CHICAGQILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-BEAIVL To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WIL- LIAMS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Beams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of an adjustable brake head of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modified construction.

My invention relates generally to brake beams and more particularly to the selfadjusting brake heads located on the ends of the beam, the particular object of my invention being to construct a comparatively simple, light, strong and durable brake head which will automatically adjust itself to the periphery of the car wheel at any point below the horizontal center line of the wheel and axle without being affected by the angle of the beam hanger.

A further object of my invention is to arrange yielding pressure devices between the self-adjusting brake heads and the sleeves or thrust blocks located on the ends of the beam, thus taking up all the clearance between the brake heads and the sleeves, which clearance would otherwise result in lost motion and which latter would be transmitted to the brake actuating mechanism when the brakes are set.

' ends of the compression and tension members, and located on the tension member outside the thrust block is the usual nut '4:- Formed integral with the thrust block is a pair of vertically disposed parallel walls 5,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 15, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 507,765.

and formed integral with the outer edges of said walls are segmental flanges 6, which project toward one another. Formed integral with the top of the thrust block is a perforated lug 7 in which the brake hanger engages, and thus the beam is suspended directly from the thrust blocks instead of from the brake heads, as is the case in a number of beams heretofore used.

8 designates the brake head, which is provided on its rear side with a curved face or seat 9, which bears directly upon the outer faces of the segmental flanges 6. Formed integral with the rear side of the brake head is a post 10, with the end of which is formed integral a segmental plate 11. The rear face of this plate is transversely serrated, as designated by 12, and corresponding serrations 13 are formed on the front side of the thrust block between the walls 5. Formed integral with the plate 11 on opposite sides of the post 10 are spring seats 14 which are occupied by expansive coil springs 15, the outer ends of which engage blocks 16 which bear against the inside faces of the flanges 6.

A wall 17 is formed integral with the thrust block between the upper portions of the walls 5, thus limiting the upward adj usting movement of the brake shoe, and the shoes are held against excessive downward movement and consequent displacement from the thrust blocks by cotter pins or keys 18, which are inserted in suitable apertures formed in the lower portions of the walls 5.

In assembling the parts of my improved beam, the post 10 and parts carried thereby are inserted from beneath between the walls 5, after which the cotter pin 18 is seated in the apertures in the walls 5. WVhen so positioned, the springs 15 tend to force the plate 11 against the serrated face of the thrust block, and the serrations 12 on the rear side of plate 11 engaging in the serrations 13, lock the brake head in its adjusted position. These springs take up all clearance due to wear or other causes between the brake head and thrust block. When the brakes are set, the brake heads 8 will shift or swing slightly in a vertical plane to permitthe brake shoes carried by said heads to automatically adjust themselevs to the peripheries of the car wheels, during which automatic adjustment the springs 15 will be compressed to such a degree-as to permit the serrations 12 to ride over the serrations 13 until the proper adjustment prevails, after which the springs act to hold the heads and shoes in their adjusted positions. The beam proper is supported by the thrust blocks or sleeves, and therefore the heads on the ends of the beam will readily adjust themselves to the peripheries of the wheels, regardless of the position or angle of said hangers. The springs 15 perform the function of anti-rattlers, in addition to taking up the clearance and wear between the heads and thrust blocks.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved brake beam can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 7

1. The combination with a brake beam,

. of thrust blocks located on the ends thereof,

movable brake heads arranged upon and having a direct locking connection with the thrust blocks, and yielding pressure means located between the heads and thrust blocks.

2. The combination witha brake beam,-

having a direct locking connection with the thrust blocks, and means whereby the heads are locked to the thrust blocks after automatic adjustment.

4:. In a brake beam, the combination with compression and tension members, thrust blocks arranged at the end thereof, said thrust blocks having segmental bearing tracks at their forward side only, brake heads having segmental bearing faces which engage said tracks, the said brake heads also having T-shaped extensions arranged between the tracks. v v 5. In a brake beam, the combination with thrust blocks having segmental bearing faces, of brake heads having segmental bearing faces which engage the corresponding faces on the thrust blocks, and yielding pressure means interposed between the brake heads and thrust blocks.

. 6. In a brake beam, the combination with compression and tension members, of thrust blocks arranged at the ends thereof and having se mental bearing tracks with a circumferentlal slot therebetween, brake head's having correspondingly shaped bearing faces to cooperate with the tracks and a thrust blocks, of brake heads applied to said 1 thrust blocks, which blocks and heads are provided with segmental bearing surfaces which engage one another, and yielding pressure devices interposed between the brake heads and thrust blocks.

9. In a brake beam, the combination with a thrust block having a circumferential channel with track faces on each side thereof, of abrake head, and a T-shaped extension on sai'd brake head which extends into the channel in the thrust block.

10. Ina brake beam, the combination with a thrust block having a segmentally curved channel, of a brake head, an extension on said brake head which occupies. the channel in the thrust block, and yielding pressure devices located in the channel between the ghrilst block and the extension on the brake ea v 11. In a brake beam, the combination with a thrust block having a segmentally curved channel, of a brake head, an extension on said brake head which occupies the channel in the thrust block, and the inner end of which extension interlocks with the bottom of the channel 12. In a brake beam, the combination with thrust blocks provided with segmentally curved recesses, of brake heads arranged for movement on the thrust blocks, extensions on the brake heads which project into the channels, means whereby the movements of the brake heads and thrust blocks are limited,

and means for locking the brake heads in their adjusted positions.

18. In a brake beam, the combination with I thrust blocks provided with segmentally curved recesses, of brake heads arranged for movement on the thrust blocks, extensions on the brake heads which project into the channels, means whereby the movements of the brake heads and thrust blocks are lim ited, and means for maintaining a tight joint between the bearing faces of the thrust block and-the brake heads.

14. In a brake beam, a thrust block provided with means for engaging the brake hanger, a self-adjusting brake head arranged on the thrust block, and means eemzo A thrust block having a curved bear-- having a T-sha ed locking projection extending into sai slot.

19. A brake head having a curved hearing face and a T-shaped locking projection extending therefrom.

20. A brake head having a plurality of housings, springs, and a plurality of bearing blocks cooperating with said springs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, 25

this 2nd day of July 1909.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR. Witnesses:

E. T. WALKER, JOSEPH W. WEINLAND. 

